Ireland will qualify automatically for the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup.
World Rugby says that after "a comprehensive review" the top seven teams from the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup will qualify directly.
These teams are: England, Canada, France, Ireland, New Zealand, USA and Australia.
Led by recently retired coach Philip Doyle and captain Fiona Coghlan, Ireland secured their best ever World Cup finish of fourth in France.
They famously beat title holders New Zealand in August's tournament and reached the semi-final stage where they lost to eventual champions England.
